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Strugnell, Arthur (Flight Lieutenant)

Killed in Flying Accident 1942-May-10

Male Head

Birth Date: 1908-September-16 (age 33)

Son of Edgar and Louisa Strugnell, of Edgware, Middlesex, England

husband of Frances E. Strugnell, of Chertsey, Surrey, England

Service
RAF
Unit
2 WS- Wireless School
Base
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Rank
Flight Lieutenant
Marshal
Air Chief MarshalA/C/M
Air MarshalA/M
Air Vice MarshalA/V/M
Air CommodoreA/C
Group CaptainG/C
Wing CommanderW/C
Squadron LeaderS/L
Flight LieutenantF/L
Flying OfficerF/O
Pilot OfficerP/O
Warrant Officer 1st ClassWO1
Warrant Officer 2nd ClassWO2
Flight SergeantFS
SergeantSGT
CorporalCPL
Senior AircraftmanSAC
Leading AircraftmanLAC
Aircraftman 1st ClassAC1
Aircraftman 2nd ClassAC2
Position
Pilot
Service Numbers
44935
OOC Confirmed CWGC Fleet Fort Calgary (Burnsland) Cemetery Lot 6. Block 7.

Commonwealth War Graves Commission Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Find-A-Grave.com Finadagrave.com

Burial
Google MapBurnsland Cemetery
Lot 6 Block 7 Sec G

Fort 3585

Fleet Fort

Fleet Fort
Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum

The Fleet 60K Fort was designed by Fleet Aircraft in Fort Erie, Ontario in 1939 and its first flight took place there on March 21 1940. RCAF evaluation at the Central Flying School, Trenton, Ontario showed it to be suitable as an intermediate trainer and so the RCAF placed an order for 200 Model 60Ks. The name Fort was selected for it.

The first production aircraft flew in May 1941 and once in service some problems emerged. Flying characteristics were good overall, but an unskilled pilot could get into trouble during certain manoeuvres. In late 1941, the RCAF began to question the concept of the intermediate trainer and soon it was deemed to be unnecessary. With its elimination, the RCAF reduced the order to 100 Forts and then had to decide what to do with them.

It chose to use the Fort as wireless operator trainer, with the rear cockpit filled with radio equipment. Conversion was carried out by early 1942 and the remodeled aircraft were sent to Wireless Training Schools in Calgary and Winnipeg. The schools did not rate the Fort very highly, but continued to use them to train thousands of wireless operators, between 1942 and 1944.

By early 1944 the Fleet Fort was found to obsolete for wireless operator training and the aircraft was gradually phased out - the last being retired from the Calgary Wireless School in July 1944. Once retired, the RCAF had no further use for them and most were sold off, even before the end of the war.

Canadian Warplane Heritage Musuem's Fleet Fort was part of the original aircraft that first flew in 1940 and was operated by the National Research Council's Aircraft Testing Deptartment in Ottawa. In 1942, it was assigned to No. 2 Wireless School in Calgary, where it was flown until mid 1944. The Museum acquired the fuselage, an engine and one wing of this rare aircraft in 1979. A group of retired Fleet employees and friends started work on restoring it in 1980. After 13 years, the Fort returned to the air in 1993. It is the only airworthy example of this type in existence. Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum

General Harold A Skaarup Web Page

last update: 2021-10-18 19:06:22

Fort 3585

Used by No. 2 Training Command. Had 949:15 airframe time when struck off.

1941-12-18 Taken on Strength 2019-08-20
1943-March-25 Accident: 2 Wireless School Loc: Aerodrome Names: Comeau | Davis
1945-03-12 Struck off Strength 2019-08-20

2 WS (2 Wireless School)

Trainees in the "Wireless Air Gunner" (WAG) stream spent 24 weeks at a Wireless Schoo learning the theory and application of wireless communications. This included signalling with lights and flags as well as radio. Their "WAG" training was completed with four weeks at a Bombing & Gunnery School.

RCAF Roundel RCAF.info - RCAF Station Calgary AB - 2 WS

General SAIT Website

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